Editing The Mystery Knight

{{about|the 2010 novella|the type of tournament contestant|mystery knight}}
{{infobox Book | 
| name         = The Mystery Knight
| image        = [[Image:Mystery Knight.jpg|200px]]
| image_caption  = 
| author       = [[George R. R. Martin]]
| country      = [[w:United States|United States]]
| language     = [[w:English language|English]]
| series       = [[A Song of Ice and Fire]]
| genre        = [[w:Fantasy|Fantasy]]
| publisher    = Tor Books
| release_date = March 16, 2010 (novella)<br>August 8, 2017 (graphic novel)
| media_type   = novella in ''Warriors'' anthology edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and Gardner Dozois
| pages        =  
| isbn         = ISBN 978-0765-32048-3 (''Warriors'')<br>ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7 (''Warriors 1'')
| preceded_by  = ''[[The Sworn Sword]]''
| followed_by  = As yet unpublished novella, tentatively named ''[[The She-Wolves of Winterfell]]''<ref>[http://grrm.livejournal.com/225206.html George R.R. Martin's ''Not A Blog'', Jul. 2nd, 2011, "Stuff and Nonsense"]</ref>
}}

'''''The Mystery Knight''''' is a novella published in 2010 as part of the ''Warriors'' anthology, edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and [[:w:Gardner Dozois|Gardner Dozois]]. It is the third in the series of "[[Dunk and Egg]]" stories. Previous stories are ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' and ''[[The Sworn Sword]]''. It is also available in pages 251-394 of ''Warriors 1''.

A compilation of the three initial "Dunk and Egg" stories, including ''The Mystery Knight'', was expected to be published in 2014,<ref>http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/1974/ The Citadel FAQ, 2.1.9 - Will There Be Any More Dung and Egg Stories?</ref><ref>[http://grrm.livejournal.com/310198.html?thread=17182646#t17182646 George R.R. Martin's ''Not A Blog'', Jan. 22nd, 2013, "A Dangerous Delivery", GRRM Comment from Jan. 23rd]</ref> but was finally published as ''[[A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms]]'' in 2015. The graphic novel edition, ''[[The Hedge Knight (comics)|The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel]]'', was released in August 2017.

==Plot==
{{Main|The Mystery Knight-Summary}}

It is the year {{date|212}}, and Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and his squire, [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]], are traveling through the [[riverlands]]. They are on their way to the [[north]] to take up service with Lord [[Beron Stark]], who has sent a call for men to help fend off [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] raids on the northern coast. On their way, they encounter a lord's train led by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] of [[Starpike]]. Additional members of the party are Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]] and a well-dressed and richly-garbed man who introduces himself as Ser [[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]], a [[hedge knight]]. Although Duncan is insulted by Peake and Cockshaw, the Fiddler treats him courteously and invites Duncan to join them at the wedding of Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] to a daughter of [[House Frey]] at [[Whitewalls]]. Seeing Peake's coat of arms, Duncan realizes he was the lord who during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]] had slain [[Roger of Pennytree|Roger]], the former squire of Duncan's old master, Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]]. Claiming to Egg that they need to pass Whitewalls in order to reach the [[kingsroad]] anyway, Duncan decides to attend the feast. 

Duncan and Egg are prevented from sleeping in the stable of the [[old inn by the lakeshore]]. While camping along the shore, Duncan meets and befriends Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], Ser [[Kyle|Kyle the Cat of Misty Moor]], and Ser [[Glendon Flowers|Glendon Ball]], three other hedge knights traveling to the wedding. From them, he learns that there is to be a [[tourney|joust]] to celebrate the wedding, and that the victor's prize is to be a [[dragon egg]]. The ferryman [[Ned (ferryman)|Ned]] ferries travelers across the lake.

While at Whitewalls, Egg becomes suspicious about the fact that most of the attendees are men whose families fought for [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] during the rebellion sixteen years past. However, he later overhears, Lord Peake speaking with another man. Peake speaks of a [[dragon]] hatching from an egg, as the "prince" had dreamed would happen, while his companion wonders whether the boy is his father's son. Later that evening, Duncan steps out onto the roof of Whitewalls, where he is approached by the Fiddler, who claims that he had recognized Duncan on the road because he had once dreamed of him. He states that in his dreams, Duncan wore the all-white armor of the [[Kingsguard]]. The Fiddler claims his dreams always come true, informing Duncan that his dreams had predicted the deaths of his brothers. He also tells Duncan that he has dreamed of a dragon hatching at Whitewalls.

Duncan enters the [[wedding tourney at Whitewalls]] as a [[mystery knight]], but loses his first tilt to Ser [[Uthor Underleaf]]. In quick succession, he learns that Underleaf had been paid to kill Duncan during the joust and that Lord Peake had offered Ser Glendon Ball a place in his garrison in exchange for losing to the Fiddler. While searching for Egg, Duncan speaks with the Fiddler, and reveals that he has realized that "John" is not the Fiddler's real name. Lord Gormon confirms to Duncan that they conspire a [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion|second rebellion]] in the name of [[House Blackfyre]]. During the next joust, Peake reveals to the crowd that the dragon's egg has been stolen, and Ser Glendon Ball is blamed and arrested. When Duncan moves to interfere, Lord Alyn Cockshaw lures Duncan away by claiming to know where Egg can be found. However, he brings Duncan to a deserted courtyard and attempts to kill him. Duncan manages to kill Cockshaw instead, but is wounded in the process. Ser Maynard Plumm suddenly comes to Duncan's rescue, and reveals that Egg can be found with Lord Butterwell in the castle's sept.

In the sept, Duncan finds Egg and discovers that the boy had informed Lords Butterwell and Frey of his true identity, claiming that Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]] was already aware of the plot and on his way to Whitewalls with an army. Lord Ambrose's son-in-law, [[Tommard Heddle]], shows up and attempts to take Egg hostage, but Duncan kills him. He sends Egg to accompany the fleeing Lord Ambrose, while he himself confronts the Fiddler by calling him by his true name: [[Daemon II Blackfyre]]. Duncan accuses Gormon Peake of falsely charging Ser Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. In turn, Daemon insists that Ball is allowed to prove his innocence and fight him in a [[trial by combat]]. Despite his grave injuries from torture, Ser Glendon easily defeats Daemon. As soon as the combat is over, those present at Whitewalls are alerted to the fact that the castle is surrounded by a large army, led by the [[Hand of the King|King's Hand]], Lord [[Brynden Rivers]]. Daemon goes forth alone to confront them and is arrested, while most of the present lords and knights surrender without a fight, or flee the scene.

Afterwards, Duncan meets Brynden Rivers inside his pavilion. Lord Rivers strips Lord Butterwell of most of his wealth, and decrees Whitewalls is forfeit to the throne and to be torn down. Once they are alone, Lord Rivers informs Duncan and Egg that the dragon Daemon had seen hatch in his dreams was Egg. At Egg's request, Rivers gives Duncan the gold to ransom his armor back. He allows them to continue their travels. Before they leave, Duncan inquires after the fate of Daemon, while Egg asks what became of the dragon's egg. Although Rivers confirms nothing, his answer makes Duncan realize who had most likely stolen it.

==Character list==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|- valign="top"
| style="width:50;" |
'''Appearing:'''
{{Columns|1|
*[[Argrave the Defiant]]
*[[Daemon II Blackfyre]]
*[[Buford Bulwer]]
*[[Ambrose Butterwell]]
*[[Lady Butterwell]]
*[[Joffrey Caswell]]
*[[Clarence Charlton]]
*[[Alyn Cockshaw]]
*[[Cosgrove]]
*[[Lord Costayne (Aerys I)|Lord Costayne]]
*[[Roland Crakehall]]
*[[Duncan the Tall]]
*[[Glendon Flowers]]
*[[Lord Frey]]
*[[Franklyn Frey]]
*[[Walder Frey]]
*[[Galtry the Green]]
*[[Tommard Heddle]]
*[[Hunchbacked septon]]
*[[Kyle the Cat]]
*[[Lothar]]
*[[Danelle Lothston]]
*[[Maester (mule)|Maester]]
*[[Lucas Nayland]]
*[[Ned (ferryman)|Ned]]
*[[Harbert Paege]]
*[[Gormon Peake]]
*[[Kirby Pimm]]
*[[Maynard Plumm]]
*[[Rain]]
*[[Brynden Rivers]]
*[[Lord Shawney]]
*[[Lord Smallwood]]
*[[Lord Sunderland]]
*[[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon "Egg" Targaryen]]
*[[Thunder]]
*[[Uthor Underleaf]]
*[[Lady Vyrwel]]
*[[Lord Vyrwel]]
*[[Will (squire)|Will]]
}}
| style="width:50;" |
'''Mentioned:'''
{{Columns|3|
*[[Arlan of Pennytree]]
*[[Quentyn Ball]]
*[[Lyonel Baratheon]]
*[[Humfrey Beesbury]]
*[[Bennis of the Brown Shield]]
*[[Aegon Blackfyre]]
*[[Aemon Blackfyre]]
*[[Daemon I Blackfyre]]
*[[Haegon Blackfyre]]
*[[Mortimer Boggs]]
*[[Otho Bracken]]
*[[Lord Butterwell (grandfather of Ambrose)|Lord Butterwell]]
*[[Armond Caswell]]
*[[Morgan Dunstable]]
*[[Ferret]]
*[[Steffon Fossoway]]
*[[Addam Frey]]
*[[Dagon Greyjoy]]
*[[Humfrey Hardyng]]
*[[Lucas Inchfield]]
*[[Kiera of Tyrosh]]
*[[Damon Lannister (lord)|Damon Lannister]]
*[[Tybolt Lannister]]
*[[Last dragon]]
*[[Mallor]]
*[[Melaquin]]
*[[Eustace Osgrey]]
*[[Penny Jenny]]
*[[Viserys Plumm]]
*[[Pudding]]
*[[Rafe]]
*[[Eden Risley]]
*[[Aegor Rivers]]
*[[Roger of Pennytree]]
*[[Rohanne of Tyrosh]]
*[[Beron Stark]]
*[[Steely Pate]]
*[[Tanselle]]
*[[Aegon I Targaryen]]
*[[Aegon IV Targaryen]]
*[[Aelor Targaryen]]
*[[Aelora Targaryen]]
*[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon Targaryen]]
*[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|Aemon Targaryen]] "the Dragonknight"
*[[Aerion Targaryen]]
*[[Aerys I Targaryen]]
*[[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]]
*[[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]]
*[[Daeron II Targaryen]]
*[[Maegor I Targaryen]]
*[[Maekar I Targaryen]]
*[[Matarys Targaryen]]
*[[Rhaegel Targaryen]]
*[[Rhaenys Targaryen]]
*[[Valarr Targaryen]]
*[[Visenya Targaryen]]
*[[Lord Tully (successor of Medgar)|Lord Tully]]
*[[Leo Tyrell (Longthorn)|Leo Tyrell]]
*[[Cassella Vaith]]
*[[Rohanne Webber]]
*[[Willam Wylde]]
}}
|}

==Mentions==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|- valign="top"
| style="width:20;" |
'''Events:'''
*[[Aegon's Conquest]]
*[[Dance of the Dragons]]
*[[First Blackfyre Rebellion]]
**[[Battle of the Redgrass Field]]
*[[Great Spring Sickness]]
*[[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]
*[[Tourney at Ashford Meadow]]
*[[Wedding tourney at Whitewalls]]
| style="width:25;" |
'''Houses:'''
*[[Heddle family]]
*[[House Ball]]
*[[House Blackfyre]]
*[[House Blackwood]]
*[[House Boggs]]
*[[House Bracken]]
*[[House Bulwer]]
*[[House Butterwell]]
*[[House Caswell]]
*[[House Charlton]]
*[[House Cockshaw]]
*[[House Costayne]]
*[[House Crakehall]]
*[[House Darklyn]]
*[[House Frey]]
*[[House Greyjoy]]
*[[House Hayford]]
*[[House Inchfield]]
*[[House Lannister]]
*[[House Lefford]]
*[[House Lothston]]
*[[House Massey]]
*[[House Mooton]]
*[[House Nayland]]
*[[House Osgrey]]
*[[House Paege]]
*[[House Peake]]
*[[House Penrose]]
*[[House Plumm]]
*[[House Risley]]
*[[House Rosby]]
*[[House Shawney]]
*[[House Smallwood]]
*[[House Stark]]
*[[House Stokeworth]]
*[[House Targaryen]]
*[[House Tully]]
*[[House Tyrell]]
*[[House Vaith]]
*[[House Vyrwel]]
*[[House Webber]]
*[[House Wylde]]
|- valign="top"
| style="width:25;" |
'''Places:'''
{{Columns|2|
*[[Arbor]]
*[[Ashford]]
*[[Ashford Meadow]]
*[[Asshai]]
*[[Bite]]
*[[Bitterbridge]]
*[[Blackcrown]]
*[[Casterly Rock]]
*[[Coldmoat]]
*[[Crackclaw Point]]
*[[Crownlands]]
*[[Dorne]]
*[[Dragonstone]]
*[[Duskendale]]
*[[Free Cities]]
**[[Myr]]
**[[Tyrosh]]
*[[God's Eye]]
*[[Green Fork]]
*[[Hag's Mire]]
*[[Harrenhal]]
*[[Highgarden]]
*[[Old inn by the lakeshore]]
*[[Iron Islands]]
*[[King's Landing]]
**[[Flea Bottom]]
**[[Red Keep]]
*[[Kingsroad]]
*[[Lannisport]]
*[[Maidenpool]]
*[[Mander]]
*[[Misty Moor]]
*[[Narrow sea]]
*[[Neck]]
*[[North]]
*[[Nunny]]
*[[Oldtown]]
*[[Pennytree]]
*[[Pussywillows]]
*[[Raventree Hall]]
*[[Reach]]
*[[Redgrass Field]]
*[[Seven Kingdoms]]
*[[Shadowlands]]
*[[Sisterton]]
*[[Starpike]]
*[[Stoney Sept]]
*[[Summerhall]]
*[[Sunset sea]]
*[[Three Sisters]]
*[[Tumbler's Falls]]
*[[Twins]]
*[[Vale of Arryn]]
*[[Valyria]]
*[[Wall]]
*[[Westeros]]
*[[Whitewalls]]
*[[Winterfell]]
}}
| style="width:20;" |
'''Terms:'''
{{Columns|2|
*[[Amethyst]]
*[[Apple]]
*[[Archer]]
*[[Bastardy]]
*[[Bear]]
*"[[The Bear and the Maiden Fair]]"
*[[Bedding]]
*[[Beer]]
*[[Blackfyre]]
*[[Blackfyre Pretenders]]
*[[Bluejay]]
*[[Boar]]
*[[Bowl of brown]]
*[[Cart]]
*[[Cat]]
*[[Cattle]]
*[[Centaur]]
*[[Chestnut tree]]
*[[Chicken]]
*[[Children of the forest]]
*[[City Watch of Lannisport]]
*[[City Watch of Oldtown]]
*[[Cod]]
*[[Crow]]
*[[Currency]]
**[[Copper penny]]
**[[Gold dragon]]
**[[Silver stag]]
*[[Dog]]
*[[Dragon]]
*[[Dragon egg]]
*[[Dreams and prophecies]]
**[[Dragon dreams]]
*[[Drum]]
*[[Duck]]
*[[Dwarf]]
*[[Elm]]
*[[Espionage]]
*[[Faith of the Seven]]
**[[Crone (the Seven)|Crone]]
**[[Father (the Seven)|Father]]
**[[Maiden (the Seven)|Maiden]]
**[[Mother (the Seven)|Mother]]
**[[Smith (the Seven)|Smith]]
**[[Stranger (the Seven)|Stranger]]
**[[Warrior (the Seven)|Warrior]]
*[[Fiddle]]
*[[Frog]]
*[[Garnet]]
*[[Glamor]]
*[[Gold]]
*[[Goose]]
*[[Great Bastards]]
*[[Hand of the King]]
*[[Harp]]
*[[Hawk]]
*[[Honey]]
*[[Horse]]
*[[Iron]]
*[[Iron Throne]]
*[[Ironborn]]
*[[Jade]]
*[[Kingsguard]]
**[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]
*[[Kingship]]
**[[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men]]
*[[Kinslaying]]
*[[Knight]]
**[[Hedge knight]]
**[[Household knight]]
**[[Landed knight]]
**[[Mystery knight]]
**[[Robber knight]]
**[[True knight]]
*[[Kraken]]
*[[Lance]]
*[[Lord]]
**[[Lord of Bitterbridge]]
**[[Lord of Casterly Rock]]
**[[Lord of the Crossing]]
**[[Lord of Duskendale]]
**[[Lord of Highgarden]]
**[[Lord of Maidenpool]]
**[[Lord of Raventree Hall]]
**[[Lord of Riverrun]]
**[[Lord of Starpike]]
**[[Lord of the Three Sisters]]
**[[Lord of the Three Towers]]
**[[Lord of Whitewalls]]
**[[Lord of Winterfell]]
*[[Maester]]
*[[Magic]]
*[[Maiden]]
*[[Man-at-arms]]
*[[Marble]]
*[[Marriage]]
*[[Martial games]]
*[[Master-at-arms]]
*[[Master of coin]]
*[[Master of the games]]
*[[Mead]]
*[[Mercenary]]
*[[Mockingbird]]
*[[Moon]]
*[[Moonstone]]
*[[Mushroom (fungi)|Mushroom]]
*[[Name day]]
*[[Nightingale]]
*[[Northmen]]
*[[Oak]]
*[[Orange]]
*[[Outlaws]]
*[[Parrot]]
*[[Peacock]]
*[[Pig]]
*[[Pigeon]]
*[[Pike]]
*[[Pine]]
*[[Pot shop]]
*[[Prince]]
**[[Prince of Summerhall]]
*[[Prostitution]]
*[[Protector of the Realm]]
*[[Purple eyes]]
*[[Raven]]
*[[Raven's Teeth]]
*[[Reed pipes]]
*[[Sept]]
*[[Septon]]
*[[Seven hells]]
*[[Sheep]]
*[[Silent sisters]]
*[[Silk]]
*[[Silver]]
*[[Sistermen]]
*[[Smallfolk]]
*[[Smith]]
*[[Smuggler]]
*[[Snail]]
*[[Snake]]
*[[Sparrow]]
*[[Spices]]
*[[Squire]]
*[[Steel]]
*[[Steward]]
*[[Sun]]
*[[Sworn shield]]
*[[Tongue mutilation]]
*[[Treason]]
*[[Trial by combat]]
*[[Trumpet]]
*"[[Two Hearts That Beat as One]]"
*[[Watercraft]]
**''[[White Lady]]''
*[[Wayn]]
*[[Weirwood]]
*[[Wine]]
**[[Arbor red]]
**[[Dornish red]]
**[[Hippocras]]
*[[Wolf]]
}}
|}

==Editions==
<gallery>
File:Mystery Knight.jpg|''The Mystery Knight'' was originally published in ''Warriors'', ISBN 978-0765-32048-3
File:Cover warriors 1.jpg|''The Mystery Knight'' is also available in ''Warriors 1'', ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7, an inexpensive mass market paperback
</gallery>

==References==
{{References|1|refs=}}
*[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/12702-asoiaf-bibliography-where-you-can-find-all-of-those-dunk-egg-stories/ Westeros forums: ''ASOIAF Bibliography: Where You Can Find All Of Those Dunk & Egg Stories'']

{{GRRM works|state = uncollapsed}}
{{ASOIAF|state=collapsed}}

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[[Category:Books|Mystery Knight, The]]

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[[es:El Caballero Misterioso]]
[[fr:L'Œuf de Dragon]]
[[pt:O Cavaleiro dos Sete Reinos - O Cavaleiro Misterioso]]
[[ru:Таинственный Рыцарь]]